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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by tensor on January 9, 2012, at 10:24:14
I'm taking 15mg Abilify now along with my ADs. I just can't fall asleep. I take 20mg of zolpidem along with 100mg of Atarax and I barely feel it. There's seems to be some shortage in ideas from pdocs on how to counter-act this, so I'm asking you, what could I take at bedtime to fall asleep? Antihistamines and benzos do not seem to help. Seroquel?
Thanks.
Posted by SLS on January 9, 2012, at 10:39:43
In reply to Abilify insomnia, posted by tensor on January 9, 2012, at 10:24:14
> I'm taking 15mg Abilify now along with my ADs. I just can't fall asleep. I take 20mg of zolpidem along with 100mg of Atarax and I barely feel it. There's seems to be some shortage in ideas from pdocs on how to counter-act this, so I'm asking you, what could I take at bedtime to fall asleep? Antihistamines and benzos do not seem to help. Seroquel?
I like the Seroquel idea. 50 mg seems like the best dosage for people with insomnia. Interestingly, some people say that trazodone works better for them than BZDs. When necessary, I combine Sonata with Ativan or Restoril.
- Scott
Posted by tensor on January 9, 2012, at 10:44:37
In reply to Re: Abilify insomnia, posted by SLS on January 9, 2012, at 10:39:43
> > I'm taking 15mg Abilify now along with my ADs. I just can't fall asleep. I take 20mg of zolpidem along with 100mg of Atarax and I barely feel it. There's seems to be some shortage in ideas from pdocs on how to counter-act this, so I'm asking you, what could I take at bedtime to fall asleep? Antihistamines and benzos do not seem to help. Seroquel?
>
> I like the Seroquel idea. 50 mg seems like the best dosage for people with insomnia. Interestingly, some people say that trazodone works better for them than BZDs. When necessary, I combine Sonata with Ativan or Restoril.
>
>
> - ScottThe pdoc-on-call will call me as soon as he has read my journal. I tried 60mg of Remeron but nada. Will post the outcome.
Thanks.
Posted by tensor on January 9, 2012, at 11:29:18
In reply to Re: Abilify insomnia » SLS, posted by tensor on January 9, 2012, at 10:44:37
> > I like the Seroquel idea. 50 mg seems like the best dosage for people with insomnia. Interestingly, some people say that trazodone works better for them than BZDs. When necessary, I combine Sonata with Ativan or Restoril.
> >
> >
> > - Scott
>
> The pdoc-on-call will call me as soon as he has read my journal. I tried 60mg of Remeron but nada. Will post the outcome.
>
> Thanks.Will add 100mg of Seroquel IR. Hopefully I will get some sleep.
/tensor
Posted by SLS on January 9, 2012, at 11:42:18
In reply to Re: Abilify insomnia » tensor, posted by tensor on January 9, 2012, at 11:29:18
> > > I like the Seroquel idea. 50 mg seems like the best dosage for people with insomnia. Interestingly, some people say that trazodone works better for them than BZDs. When necessary, I combine Sonata with Ativan or Restoril.
> > >
> > >
> > > - Scott
> >
> > The pdoc-on-call will call me as soon as he has read my journal. I tried 60mg of Remeron but nada. Will post the outcome.
> >
> > Thanks.
>
> Will add 100mg of Seroquel IR. Hopefully I will get some sleep.With Seroquel, sometimes less is better for insomnia. Higher dosages produce NE reuptake inhibition like an antidepressant as the active metabolite builds up in your system.
- Scott
Posted by tensor on January 9, 2012, at 11:53:55
In reply to Re: Abilify insomnia » tensor, posted by SLS on January 9, 2012, at 11:42:18
> With Seroquel, sometimes less is better for insomnia. Higher dosages produce NE reuptake inhibition like an antidepressant as the active metabolite builds up in your system.
>
>
> - ScottI know, but Seroquel was never activating for me and I took 600mg as most. Thanks for the input though. Will let you know tomorrow if I got any sleep.
Posted by Phillipa on January 9, 2012, at 12:31:27
In reply to Re: Abilify insomnia » SLS, posted by tensor on January 9, 2012, at 11:53:55
the one time took seroquel in a hospital 50mg with benzos left me unable to speak or stand. I was taken off it. I don't think it liked me. Phillipa
Posted by emmanuel98 on January 9, 2012, at 20:42:59
In reply to Re: Abilify insomnia, posted by SLS on January 9, 2012, at 10:39:43
Abilfy never gave me insomnia (or never worsened my insomnia -- I've been an insomniac all my life), but parnate does. I alternate taking 25mg seroquel and 100mg trazadone plus 2mg ativan. I don't want to get too much tolerance to the ativan.
When I get really screwed up with agitated depression, as I still do sometimes, I take 4mg risperdal or 10mg haldol, prn, and 2mg ativan. This will knock me out for 12 or 14 hours.
Posted by tensor on January 9, 2012, at 22:41:31
In reply to Re: Abilify insomnia » tensor, posted by Phillipa on January 9, 2012, at 12:31:27
> the one time took seroquel in a hospital 50mg with benzos left me unable to speak or stand. I was taken off it. I don't think it liked me. Phillipa
Sorry to hear that, Phillipa.
Posted by tensor on January 9, 2012, at 22:43:59
In reply to Re: Abilify insomnia, posted by emmanuel98 on January 9, 2012, at 20:42:59
> Abilfy never gave me insomnia (or never worsened my insomnia -- I've been an insomniac all my life), but parnate does. I alternate taking 25mg seroquel and 100mg trazadone plus 2mg ativan. I don't want to get too much tolerance to the ativan.
>I hope it will get better over time.
> When I get really screwed up with agitated depression, as I still do sometimes, I take 4mg risperdal or 10mg haldol, prn, and 2mg ativan. This will knock me out for 12 or 14 hours.
Interesting.
Posted by tensor on January 9, 2012, at 22:50:22
In reply to Re: Abilify insomnia » emmanuel98, posted by tensor on January 9, 2012, at 22:43:59
Took 100mg of Seroquel at 8pm and 10mg of zolpidem, slept at 9.30pm. Did woke up now and then during the night but always managed to fell back to sleep rather quickly. Took 7.5mg of Abilify and I'm going to alternate between that and 15mg every other night to get a mean dose of 11.25mg and see if it's enough. Please let me know if it's a bad idea.
Thank you.
Posted by SLS on January 10, 2012, at 6:53:20
In reply to Abilify insomnia and Seroquel » tensor, posted by tensor on January 9, 2012, at 22:50:22
> Took 100mg of Seroquel at 8pm and 10mg of zolpidem, slept at 9.30pm. Did woke up now and then during the night but always managed to fell back to sleep rather quickly. Took 7.5mg of Abilify and I'm going to alternate between that and 15mg every other night to get a mean dose of 11.25mg and see if it's enough. Please let me know if it's a bad idea.
>
> Thank you.Are you unable to split the Abilify tablets? As you know, alternating doses is an option because of the long half-life - 75 hours. Still, I have a tendency to want to keep blood levels as stable as possible.
Don't forget that lower dosages of Seroquel work better for insomnia than high dosages. Perhaps 50 mg would be more effective at treating your insomnia.
Good luck.
- Scott
Posted by phidippus on January 15, 2012, at 18:01:15
In reply to Abilify insomnia, posted by tensor on January 9, 2012, at 10:24:14
I hated Abilify insommnia. Do you take it at night? I found it helpful to take it in the morning.
Seroquel might be helpful, but then you're adding more AAP into the picture.
I take Remeron, which is a melatonin synthesist. It may work for you.
You may not have tried the right Benzos. Oxazepam and Valium can really help.
Eric
Some others:
Cyproheptadine
Clonodine
Gabitril
Posted by tensor on January 15, 2012, at 18:14:08
In reply to Re: Abilify insomnia » tensor, posted by phidippus on January 15, 2012, at 18:01:15
> I hated Abilify insommnia. Do you take it at night? I found it helpful to take it in the morning.
>
> Seroquel might be helpful, but then you're adding more AAP into the picture.
>
> I take Remeron, which is a melatonin synthesist. It may work for you.
>
> You may not have tried the right Benzos. Oxazepam and Valium can really help.
>
> Eric
>
> Some others:
>
> Cyproheptadine
> Clonodine
> Gabitril
>Yes, I take it at night. I actually take 100mg of Seroquel now and it works ok. Opened a few hours ago another thread discussing the use of Valdoxan, do you have input regarding that? The idea of using Valdoxan is to get rid of Seroquel and possibly get an AD effect. I take Remeron but its sedative property disappeared a long time ago. Valium doesn't work and I never liked oxazepam.
I found zolpidem to be strongest when taking 20mg of it.Regards.
Posted by phidippus on January 15, 2012, at 18:40:44
In reply to Re: Abilify insomnia » phidippus, posted by tensor on January 15, 2012, at 18:14:08
>Valdoxan, do you have input regarding that?
I does cause drowsiness. But will it be strong enough?
Rozarem is a melatonin synthesist which may work instead of Valdoxan.
Zolpiderm plus either of those two could work.
Eric
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